Mending Broken People
Addiction is not picky. It can, and does, attack anyone from any walk of life. Since November 2011, and in response to community need, Fireside Addiction Services in Chilliwack, B.C. is mending broken people, one life at a time.
The idea for an addiction centre in Chilliwack, which serves the Fraser Valley, came after The Salvation Army Paetzold Rehabilitation Centre, a 172-bed residential rehab near Mission, B.C. closed in July of 2010. Currently operating out of a store front, Fireside Addictions is an extension of existing services provided by The Salvation Army in Chilliwack.
“While the new agency is non-residential, much of the programming is based upon philosophies that have proven successful for thousands of men who attended Miracle Valley over the years,” says Fireside counsellor Jim Ligertwood, who has experienced his own struggles with addiction.
Clients are seen on a walk-in basis or by referral. “And our client base continues to grow,” says Jim. The program not only assists and supports individuals striving for an addiction-free lifestyle, but also helps loved ones whose lives have been affected by drugs and alcohol abuse of others.
Ligertwood says the program appeals to those who want to recover from chemical and other dependencies, but who are reluctant to leave home. “Treating patients in the community has some advantages over residential treatment. We also offer workshops for the community at large addressing anger management and other issues associated with addiction.”
Fireside Addiction Services offers individuals and families a program of recovery that includes motivational enhancement therapy, relapse prevention and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) with a strong element of spiritual guidance and 12-step support.
“The programs are life-changing for those in need of them,” says Jim. “When clients make the decision and commitment to sobriety, they slowly begin to rebuild their sense of dignity and self-worth. In recovery, dignity takes on heightened importance. It is a prized possession.”
For more than 125 years The Salvation Army has recognized the importance of respecting the rights of those who have lost control of their lives to addiction. The Army believes that dignity is within reach for all and that how we treat our most vulnerable citizen’s matters.
